Just Completed a Restoration....

This began life 6 years ago as a mis-matched, ugly, mutt of a rifle I bought from the CMP for $295. I've slowly scoured guns shows and Ebay looking for all correct parts for the rifle's serial number.

Some parts were easy to find...the bolt, operating rod, hammer. Some were surprisingly expensive...the rear site cost me $300. Some were tough...it took me a year to find a properly marked WWII barrel that was correct for the receiver. The last piece, the stock, took me the longest to find....2 years. Properly marked WWII era stocks are TOUGH to find and EXPENSIVE when you do. I found this one at a gun show last month in a barrel of old stocks. At first it looked to be just a dime a dozen, unmarked, run of the mill WWII era walnut stock. Upon very close inspection I saw the very faint markings on the stock that I think the dealer missed. I was thrilled, and paid the guy $35 for it.

With the stock, my rifle is about a 95% restoration of a Springfield Armory M1 Garand that would have left the assembly line in February or March of 1945. And it's a shooter. I dont baby it. I enjoy it and clean it properly....but I also love to shoot it until it smokes!

Hope you gents enjoy the pics and video. It's much like restoring a tractor...except no paint, no busted knuckles, and this thing has a max. effective range of 440 yards.

Re: Just Completed a Restoration....

Mon Feb 27, 2012 4:30 pm

Blair:

ahhhhhh... a shooting bench

Very nice Garand, very nice indeedy. And to think it took a number of years before the military cottoned on to the Garand, seems they were in love with the Springfield 303 for some reason. The Garand was a significant improvement and I think one of the best items issued to US Infantry during WWII.

You did a very nice restoration

Re: Just Completed a Restoration....

Mon Feb 27, 2012 6:02 pm

That looks great Blair a friend of mine has one, very fun gun to shoot. Yours looks as good as any of those lined up at the Springfield Armory Museum, I love to visit that place.

Re: Just Completed a Restoration....

Wed Feb 29, 2012 3:23 pm

Very nice video Blair, lot of work but that makes it mean even more. Congrats on a job well done.

Re: Just Completed a Restoration....

Thu Mar 01, 2012 7:09 am

Thanks Rudi, Joe and Yogie. I restored an IHC Garand years ago. That was fun, as the rifle was built the same year my Cub was.

Joe, I have not been to the museum. Really should make a trip.

Blair

Re: Just Completed a Restoration....

Thu Mar 01, 2012 7:25 am

My age is showing. (71) I receiverd my Army classification as sharpshooter with an M1. And now it is a museum piece. Vern

Re: Just Completed a Restoration....

Thu Mar 01, 2012 7:32 am

v w wrote:My age is showing. (71) I receiverd my Army classification as sharpshooter with an M1. And now it is a museum piece. Vern

Vern, working backwards...if you are 71 that means you were born around 1940 or 41 or so? And I guess went through Army basic at age 17 or 18 in the mid to late 50's? That was about the time the Garand was just starting to be phased out and the M14 was being introduced.

What was your MOS? I was 11C and did basic at Ft. Benning.

Blair

Last edited by Bigschuss on Thu Mar 01, 2012 8:39 am, edited 1 time in total.

Re: Just Completed a Restoration....

Fri Mar 02, 2012 8:45 pm

Nice Garand, and good job on the restoration! An acquaintance has a magnificent collection of Garands. He has every model and variation of every Garand ever made, with the exception of a type that IH built during WWII. Fantastic rifles! Watch your thumb!

Re: Just Completed a Restoration....

Fri Mar 02, 2012 9:34 pm

If shooting in a position match that requires loading one round at a time, the edge of your hand can get pretty soar too.

Re: Just Completed a Restoration....

Sat Mar 03, 2012 9:19 am

Bigschuss wrote:

v w wrote:My age is showing. (71) I receiverd my Army classification as sharpshooter with an M1. And now it is a museum piece. Vern

Vern, working backwards...if you are 71 that means you were born around 1940 or 41 or so? And I guess went through Army basic at age 17 or 18 in the mid to late 50's? That was about the time the Garand was just starting to be phased out and the M14 was being introduced.

What was your MOS? I was 11C and did basic at Ft. Benning.

Blair

August 25th 1940. When we were in week eight at Fort leonard Wood the M14 was being used by those in their first few weeks. This would have been I believe June 1959. It took me better than three months to finish basic due to being hospitalized so I can't really count forward from entry. MOS was 711.10 (administrative specialist) Ending grade SP4. Vern

Re: Just Completed a Restoration....

Sat Mar 03, 2012 9:21 am

moredman wrote:Nice Garand, and good job on the restoration! An acquaintance has a magnificent collection of Garands. He has every model and variation of every Garand ever made, with the exception of a type that IH built during WWII. Fantastic rifles! Watch your thumb!

One of the rifles I had in basic was built by IH. It was not RED however. Vern

Re: Just Completed a Restoration....

Sat Mar 03, 2012 6:21 pm

moredman wrote:Nice Garand, and good job on the restoration! An acquaintance has a magnificent collection of Garands. He has every model and variation of every Garand ever made, with the exception of a type that IH built during WWII. Fantastic rifles! Watch your thumb!

Thanks moredman. Appreciate the kind words.

The reason your friend is missing a WWII ear IHC Garand is because they don't exist. Only SA and Winchester made Garands during the war. IHC made them after the war.

I have yet to get a Garand thumb.....knock on wood.

Re: Just Completed a Restoration....

Sat Mar 03, 2012 6:29 pm

v w wrote:

Bigschuss wrote:

v w wrote:My age is showing. (71) I receiverd my Army classification as sharpshooter with an M1. And now it is a museum piece. Vern

Vern, working backwards...if you are 71 that means you were born around 1940 or 41 or so? And I guess went through Army basic at age 17 or 18 in the mid to late 50's? That was about the time the Garand was just starting to be phased out and the M14 was being introduced.

What was your MOS? I was 11C and did basic at Ft. Benning.

Blair

August 25th 1940. When we were in week eight at Fort leonard Wood the M14 was being used by those in their first few weeks. This would have been I believe June 1959. It took me better than three months to finish basic due to being hospitalized so I can't really count forward from entry. MOS was 711.10 (administrative specialist) Ending grade SP4. Vern

Interesting Vern. When I went through basic the new troops in week 1 were being issued kevlar helmets, while we were graduating with the venerable M1 steel pot.

Going through basic once wasn't good enough though...the very next summer I went through Air Force basic because I switched branches when I went active duty.